Posted on 12/30/2004 11:05:39 AM PST by kahoutek
IT seems almost impossible.
Just days after the tidal wave disaster, one of the devastated beaches was returning to normal yesterday.
On Sunday, Patong Beach was hit by a wall of water that swept into Phuket, claiming at least 120 lives.
Parasols, chairs, and other beach paraphernalia were swept to the top of the tree-lined beach, dragging helpless holidaymakers with them. It was at this beach that six-month-old Melina Heppell, of Perth, disappeared from her father's arms when the huge wave struck.
For some tourists yesterday, however, the tragedy was becoming a memory, albeit a vivid one, as they made the most of the weather and topped up their tans.
Many in bathers and bikinis, some lounged on sunbeds and others took a dip in the water that had claimed so many lives a few days earlier.
Their fun in the sun came despite warnings that aftershocks could follow the disaster that is likely to have killed as many as 100,000.
As many Westerners waited for news of missing loved ones others arrived to take holidays as usual.
Engineer Paul Cunliffe, from Manchester, arrived on an almost empty flight from Malaysia. Gin and tonic in hand, Mr Cunliffe said he and two friends were booked into a beach-front hotel that had escaped serious damage, and had been assured of a "wonderful holiday".
"Our friends think we're mad. The only risk we face I think is if there's another quake. We love the place that much and we thought we would take the risk," he said.
Further south at Surin Beach, where 10 died, tourists also were out in force.
Sorry, but that's obscene, IMO. I do hope that this "fine gentleman" sees the destruction and turns to to render whatever aid he can. If not, then a pox upon him.
I've written my son and his fiance asking that they not go to Thailand on vacation next week.
It just seems so disrespectful for them to go.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe getting the tourist industry up and running again is best for the Thai, but I'd rather they show some respect.
No class, no heart, no soul.
Will they have fireworks and celebrations for the New Year or just a healthy disrespect of the dead?
I'm sure the locals want tourism to continue. They need the income. Now more than ever.
Now can't we all respect each others feelings?
Don't make me laugh!
If I were over there, I'd be organzing the repair and refit of the fishing fleets. They must get back to work as soon as possible, and kick-start the related businesses and ways of life.
Bump.
Bizarre... I don't mind tired and worn out tourists who are unable to get home lying on the beach, but I personally could not enjoy myself with so much death and destruction around.
Give people time to at least find and bury their dead. This guy must be really hitting the Beefeaters hard because I'm sure the smell of death is still fresh in the air...
They obviously need the income.
115,000 dead and counting and this Euro piece of crap comes walking off a plane with a gin and tonic in hand? Classy!!! Imagine the European media's response if this jackass happened to be an American.
Send them to the Philippines. Great beaches, and there are literally thousands of them, and everyone speaks English. I just came back from there last month. I did not want to come back.
I understand the feelings, but it doesn't help Asia to boycott their tourism industry. Many westerners are on Christmas vacation. What good would it do to take their vacations somewhere else?
I suspect that a lot of aid money will be wasted, although hopefully it will help combat the spread of hunger and diseases were needed. But the other thing this region needs is to have an economic recovery from the damage--as was needed in New York City after 9/11.
"Indonesia Needs Help, Death Toll Expected To Exceed 400,000"
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash5.htm
You're right about the Philippines...I was in Phuket last month but last year I made a stop in the Philippines after my trip to Thailand.
I flew to Cebu City and took a two hour ferry to Bohol Island. I visited the sights such as the Chocolate Hills, Luboc river, and the Baclayon Church but stayed on Panglao Island, attached to Bohol. There was white sand and calm, warm water--and there was hardly anyone there, unlike Boracay. I stayed on the beach at the Bohol Diver's Club for abuot $25 for the night. Patong Beach and Phi Phi Island's Maya Bay are awesome but lots of people (well not now, I'm sure). Boracay and Puerto Galera are supposed to awesome in the Philippines but everyone goes there. Next time you go, I highly recommend Panglao Island in Bohol. I'll be sure to arrange a SCUBA trip next time I'm in the Visayas.
No way! I really hope this is not true.
Who takes a six month old baby on vacation with them to the beach?
It is hard to grasp the extent of this disaster. How anyone could stroll of a plane with a drink in hand expecting to sunbathe where so many people had just drowned . . .
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